Photo Realistic Composite

Important Dates:

3/11; a few possible ideas

3/22 & 3/24; in-class shooting of main character.

4/14; final image and print due. File for printing due prior class

The objective of this assignment is to create a photorealistic impression of an event that never took place. This event can be fictional or have historical, art-historical or pop-cultural references. The finish piece should have a strong subject/conceptual component; it should go well beyond being a photoshop exercise. Be imaginative.

Since you are working in a production/directorial mode, it might help to think of this project theatrically. Who is your main character? What do they look like? How are they costumed? And... what is the "stage" they will occupy? The finished piece should include at least three photographic elements: main subject, secondary subject and background. All photography must be yours -- no appropriated imagery (appropriated themes are okay). It should be convincing as a "photograph."

The main subject (a person) should be captured in the studio, using "white screen" approaches presented in class. Use costumes, make-up, etc. as required.

Photography/photoshop work should demonstrate skills as taught in class. Special care should be given to masking techniques and lighting.

Image specs: 11x14 (approximate) @ 300 dpi. Turn in layered photoshop file and quality print.

Scheduling

3/2

Presentation: Language

In-class production

3/8

Introductory Lecture: Creative Digital Production Project

Finish mash-up projects. Files due for printing.

3/10

Critique mash-up projects

3/15, 3/17

Spring break

3/22

Group A Studio Production Shoot

3/24

Group B Studio Production Shoot

Group Critique Mash-up project

Within your groups of three or four, view and discuss the work of each group member.

Which design seems the most compelling? Why? Evaluate along:

• Overall concept
• Strong design elements (color, texture, composition, etc.)
• Interesting visual interactions between layers / components
• How do the photoshop / layer techniques support the idea?

Which design seems the least compelling? Why?

How could the strongest design be improved? What is the weakest element?

Are there aspects of the lesser designs that could be incorporated into the stronger?

Are there completely new directions / tangents suggested by the work?

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Take the feedback into consideration and revise one piece to "completion"

Blog posting #6, for week ending 2/26

For this week's blog entry, take a break from generating your own content (!) and:

1. Thoughtfully comment on at two classmate blog entries (1-2 short paragraphs)
2. Comment on a another student's comment. Do you have something to add? Agree? Disagree?

Digital Photographic Montage

Due Dates:

3/1 -- three strong comps due for initial critique and discussion. The best idea gets developed into final piece.

3/8 File due, if Chris will run print for you.

3/10 Final image (print and layered photoshop file) due

Using photoshop as your platform, create an effective work of digital art that combines scanned and photographic elements in a compelling fashion. It should work as a coherent design. Whether abstract, figurative or conceptual (or all of the above !), it should be meaningful and convincing. Try to gain visual appeal through the effect of blending your layers together. The results will look much more original. Refer to work by various artists for inspiration.

Criteria:

At least 11 x 14, 300-360 dpi.

File must make use of:

1. At least one scanned element (scanned objects, textures, or artworks).
2. At least two photographic elements.
3. Some sort of visual idea or concept to hold the piece together
4. Required skills (as covered in class):

• Good input (appropriate scanning techniques, strong imagery, etc.)
• Multiple layers with varied levels of opacity
• Masking with layer masks
• Use of blending modes
• Advanced blending
• Fill layers (solid color, gradient, pattern, etc.)

Suggestions for "Place"

Check out the multitudes of landscape photographers, also:

Hiroshi Sugimoto (especially his diorama photographs)

Craig Kalpakjian

Julia Scher

Joel Meyerowitz

Joel Sternfeld

Richard Misrach

Jitka Hanzlova

Doug Aitken

Uta Barth

Andreas Gursky

Justine Kurland

Suggestions for Time presentation artists

The artists for time may deal directly with time, or things like duration, deja vu, altered time, cultural ideas of time, or related themes such as "the past" or "history" or "memory".

Photographers / artists that deal with sequence over time, such as Eadweard Muybridge (old), Harold Edgerton (stop motion, also old), Duane Michals (events over time), Sam Taylor Wood (time lapse still life series), Bill Viola (Video), David Hockney (specifically his multiple Polaroid images of human interactions, such as his "The Scrabble Game"), Douglas Gordon (Video), Shimon Attie, (photo, video projections on Berlin's former Jewish Quarter commemorating the past). This should get you started. Also, browse through the photo blogs from this page.